Helping Neurodiverse Students Succeed with Sensory-Friendly Tools
November 26, 2024
December 2nd is Special Education Day, marking the anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which opened doors for students of all abilities to thrive in the classroom. To celebrate, we’ve put together a list of popular sensory items that help students stay focused and engaged at school.
For neurodiverse students, such as those with ADHD, sensory processing challenges, or autism, school can feel overwhelming. They may face difficulties staying organizing, focusing on tasks, and managing emotions. However, simple tools like fidgets and sensory items can make a significant impact. Much like tapping a foot or doodling to stay focused during a long meeting, fidget tools provide children with a quiet, purposeful outlet to remain calm and engaged. These tools are affordable, easy to use, and beneficial for both families and educators, helping students thrive in the classroom.
To curate this list of recommended sensory items, we sought the expertise of Rocky Mountain Human Services’ staff members who work in the Denver Mill Levy Program. These professionals work closely with students and their families to identify sensory tools that best enhance focus and engagement in the classroom, and they have a strong understanding of what works well for students of all ages.
Many of these items are available through the Autism Community Store, a local store filled with toys, gadgets, and items designed for people with autism.
Chewy and Chewable Fidgets provide a safe outlet for oral sensory input, helping students stay calm and focused.
- The ChuBuddy Pendant is a discreet, wearable necklace that students can chew on
- The Chewy Pencil Topper can be added to a pencil and is not only chewable, but also bendable
- The Chewy Wrist Band is a great alternative for children who chew their clothes
Weighted Clothing is the school-appropriate version of a weighted blanket, which provides gentle, even pressure to help students feel grounded and calm.
- The Sensory Cave Weighted Compression Vest can be worn whenever for a soothing effect, decreasing agitation or dysregulation
- The Creature Commforts Weighted Sensory Lizard is not technically an item of clothing but can be worn around the neck or set in the lap to encourage focus through its calming effect
Wiggle Seats provide children a safe outlet for movement, improve sensory regulation, and promote better attention during seated activities.
- BouncyBand Wiggle Seat is an inflatable cushion with small bumps on its surface to provide calming tactile stimulation
- BouncyBand Wiggle Wobble Chair Feet transforms regular classroom chairs into chairs that can wiggle by adding special feet
- Wobble Stools have a curved rubber based that allows students to quietly wobble
Pop Fidgets are designed to enhance children’s focus by providing a repetitive, calming activity that channels restless energy into a quiet, purposeful movement.
- Pop It Ball allows students to poke the dots in and then squeeze the ball to pop them back out
- IPOP Dinosaur are fun squeezable dinosaurs whose eyes pop out when squeezed
- Push Pop Fidgets come in a variety of colors and shapes but all share the satisfying activity of pressing the bubbles in and back out, which relieves stress and improves focus
For Denver families who have children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), explore how the Denver Mill Levy Program can support your family through flexible, individualized supports and community connections.